Alfred “Fred” Parent (1875 - 1972)

Major League Baseball Player. He was an infielder and outfielder making his debut for the St. Louis Perfectos on July 14, 1899. For twelve seasons, he played with the St. Louis Perfectos in 1899, Boston Americans (1901-07) and Chicago White Sox (1908-11). He lead the American League in bats in 1902 and was a member […]

Chief Loco (1970 - 1970)

Native American Apache Chief.  A Warm Springs Apache, he was a well respected voice for peace among his people. His stance was resented by rival Apache chief Geronimo. In 1882, Geronimo used a gun to force Loco off the San Carlos Reservation and join him in his war against the Americans and Mexicans. When Loco […]

San Pasqual Battlefield Monument (1970 - 1970)

This battle at San Pasqual lasted but a few days in December of 1846 during the two year Mexican-American conflict which saw California ceded to the U.S. The unlucky opponents were the Americans under Gen Stephen W. Kearny leader of the army of the west and the Californios (Mexican forces) under the leadership of the […]

Eleazar Wheelock (1711 - 1779)

Educator. Born in Windham, Connecticut, child of Ralph Wheelock and Ruth Huntington. In 1733, he graduated from Yale College, having won the first award of the Dean Berkeley Donation for distinction in classics. He continued his theological studies at Yale until he was licensed to preach in May 1734. after beginning as pastor of a […]

Albert Smith White (1803 - 1864)

US Congressman and Senator. After graduation from Union College in his native New York, he moved to Lafayette, Indiana where he spent the rest of his life in public service. In 1836 he was elected, as a member of the Whig Party, to Congress representing Indiana’s twenty-fifth district. He served one term before running for […]

Annie Heloise Abel Henderson (1873 - 1947)

Historian. An expert on the North American Indian, she received much acclaim for her studies of Native Americans in relation to their participation and experiences during the American Civil War period. Some of her notable works were “The American Indian as Slaveholder and Secessionist”, “The American Indian at the End of the Confederacy, 1863-1865” and […]

Modesti Demers (1809 - 1871)

Pioneer Roman Catholic Missionary. Born in Quebec, Canada, after his ordination as a Roman Catholic priest in 1836, he was a missionary to Oregon in 1838. He devoted much of his time to evangelizing Native Americans throughout the territory states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and parts of British Columbia. He also traveled as […]

Clarence “Happy” Day (1901 - 1990)

Professional Hockey Player. Also known as ‘Hap.’ A native of Owen Sound, Ontario, Day played for teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). At 5’11”, and 175lbs, he played the position of Defense for the Toronto St. Pats from 1924 to 1925, Toronto Maple Leafs from 1926 to 1937, and 1940 to 1950, as both […]

Lionel Pretoria “Big Train” Conacher (1900 - 1954)

Hall of Fame Professional Hockey Player. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Conacher played the position of Defense for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1925 to 1927, New York Americans from 1926 to 1930, and the Montreal Maroons from 1930 to 1933, and 1934 to 1937. From 1929 to 1930 he was also Head Coach of the […]

Buffalo Soldier Monument (1970 - 1970)

Richard Irving Dodge (1827 - 1895)

United States Army Officer. He was a career army officer who served many years in the Western Plains, and participated in a number of the conflicts with the indigenous Indians. In 1882, he published “Our Wild Indians: Thirty Three Years Experience Among The Red Men Of The Great West, an acclaimed primary source about US […]

William Harold “Baldy” Cotton (1902 - 1984)

Professional Hockey Player. Cotton was a native of Nanticoke, Ontario. He played the position of Left Wing for teams in the NHL and the IAHL Hockey Leagues. At 5’10”, and 155lbs, Cotton played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1925 to 1929, Toronto Maple Leafs from 1928 to 1935, New York Americans from 1935 to 1937, […]

Harry Alexander Connor (1904 - 1947)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, he played for the Boston Bruins from 1927 to 1928, and from 1929 to 1930, the New York Americans from 1928 to 1929, and the Ottawa Senators from 1929 to 1931. After retiring from hockey  he returned to Ottawa, Ontario, and opened up his own Washer and […]

Marcus Whitman (1802 - 1847)

Missionaries. Marcus and his wife Narcissa left his medical practice in the East to go West as missionaries under the auspices of the Presbyterian and Congregational boards. They were among the earliest white people to move into the northwest, founding a mission to Native Americans near what is now Walla Walla, Washington. Some hostile locals […]

Paul Eliot Green (1894 - 1981)

Playwright, Screenwriter. He was an outspoken champion of civil rights and one of the first white Americans to write plays about black life. In 1926 he wrote “In Abraham’s Bosom” and in 1927 he won the Pulitzer Prize for the drama. He also wrote seven Broadway plays and other books including “The Lost Colony” (1937) […]

Narcissa Whitman (1808 - 1847)

Religious Figure. She and her husband, Dr. Marcus Whitman, left his medical practice in the East to go West as missionaries under the auspices of the Presbyterian and Congregational boards. They were among the earliest white people to move into the northwest, founding a mission to Native Americans near what is now Walla Walla, Washington. […]

Nicholas Herkimer (1970 - 1777)

Revolutionary War New York Militia General. He was appointed Brigadier General militia by the New York State Provincial Congress during the Revolutionary War, and led troops against a combined forces of Native Americans, loyalists and British soldiers at the August 6, 1777 Battle of Oriskany in Oneida County, New York. He was mortally wounded in […]

Billy Reay (1918 - 2004)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Reay played for teams in the NHL, MJHL, WSRHL, AHA, CCSHL, WHL, QSHL, and the Al-Cup hockey leagues. At 5’07, and 155lbs, Reay played the position of Center for the St. Boniface Seals from 1936 to 1938, Winnipeg Hudson’s Bay from 1937 to 1938, Calgary Stampeders from […]

Elouise Pepion Cobell (1945 - 2011)

Native American Leader. An elder of the Niitsi’tapi people, she worked as treasurer of the Blackfeet Nation. During the course of her job, she noticed irregularities that led her to question the federal government’s management of Indian trust funds. As a result, she became the lead plaintiff in Cobell v. Salazar, a class-action lawsuit against […]

John C Cremony (1970 - 1879)

Civil War Union Army Officer, Author. A native of Maine, Cremony first saw military service with the coming of the Mexican War and served as a Lieutenant with the 1st Massachusetts Infantry. After the war he was hired as a journalist for the Boston Herald until 1849, when he was recruited to be an interpreter […]

Stan Smrke (1928 - 1977)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Smrke played the position of Left Wing for teams in the NHL, EHL, QSHL, QHL, and the AHL hockey leagues. At 5’11, and 180lbs, Smrke played for the Copper Cliff Jr. Redmen from 1945 to 1946, Atlantic City-Baltimore from 1947 to 1948, Chicoutimi Volants from 1948 to […]

George Lovington “Sassafrass” Winter (1878 - 1951)

Major League Baseball Player. He was right hander pitcher, making his debut for the for the Boston Americans on June 15, 1901. For eight-seasons, he played with the Boston Americans 1901-08) and part of the 1908, season with the Detroit Tigers. Altough he was not a part of the Boston Americans World Series win in […]

LTC George Croghan (1791 - 1849)

Lieutenant Colonel US Army. Known as the “Hero of Fort Stephenson” his leadership in deterring the British forces as they attempted to enter northern Ohio has been called the turning point of the War of 1812 by many historians. Born in Locust Grove, Kentucky he enlisted as a private in 1811 serving under Major General […]

Laudas Joseph “Duke” Dukowski (1900 - 1976)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1926 to 1927, and from 1929 to 1931, and the New York Americans from 1930 to 1931, and from 1932 to 1934. Originally going by the name Dutkowski, he dropped the ‘T’ from his name. After his hockey days he […]

Darryl Hayward Sly (1939 - 2007)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Collingwood, Ontario, he played at the position of defense for six seasons (1965 to 1971) in the National Hockey League. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, and the Vancouver Canucks. His NHL career consisted of 79 games, 1 goal, and 2 assists. Besides the NHL, […]

Natalie Curtis Burlin (1875 - 1921)

Ethnomusicologist.  Curtis studied at New York’s National Conservatory of Music and in Europe.  After a 1900 trip in which she visited Arizona’s Hopi Indian reservation, she decided to devote herself to collecting and preserving Native American music.  Transcribing lyrics with pencil and paper and recording the songs with an Edison cylinder recorder, her work brought […]

Laura Adorkor “Mother Kofi” Kofi (1970 - 1928)

Social Reformer. A native of Ghana, she founded “The African Universal Church and Commercial League” in the United States. Its aim was to repatriate African-Americans back to the homeland of their forefathers in West Africa. She was assassinated on the pulpit. Cause of death: assassinated

Leonard Cecil “Len” Grosvenor (1905 - 1981)

Professional Hockey Player. A native of Ottawa, Ontario, he played at the position of Center and Right Wing for a total of seven seasons (1927 to 1933) in the National Hockey League with the Ottawa Senators, New York Americans, and the Montreal Canadiens. His total NHL career consisted of 144 games played, 9 goals scored, […]

Rev David Brainerd (1718 - 1747)

American Missionary to Native Americans. Died of tuberculosis at the home of Jonathan Edwards in Northhampton, Massachusetts. He was close to Edward’s daughter, Jerusha (who is buried next to Brainerd). His Journal was published and has had a telling effect on many Christians since, including John Wesley, founder of Methodism.  Family links:  Parents:  Hezekiah Brainerd […]

Alonzo Wright (1898 - 1976)

First African-American to have a gas staion franchise (Standard Oil).  By 1930’s had 11 stations, and by the 1940’s, employed more African-Americans than anyone in the U.S.  Also made a plan for African-Americans to work their way through college, one of which was Jesse Owens. (bio by: Ginny M)